Why Attend - Downstream Buyers

De-risk, and grow your supply chain, responsibly – on the African continent

Africa holds a significant portion of the world’s critical minerals, including copper, cobalt, lithium, nickel, graphite, manganese and more, which are essential for producing batteries used in electric vehicles and renewable energy storage.

As the global demand for these minerals increases – driven by global consumers’ needs for a decarbonised world – manufacturers in the automotive, aerospace, clean energy, and technology sectors must secure sufficient minerals to build resilient supply chains, while also meet the rising global demand for sustainable and ethically sourced critical minerals.

Mining Indaba supports downstream buyers understand Africa’s critical minerals wealth potential while navigating geopolitical and regulatory risks and infrastructure limitations. There will be several dialogues, networking and content agendas to unpack the latest developments around environmental management, price volatility, and localisation of skills and downstream value addition. All these support downstream buyers’ objectives to grow their businesses, collaborating with the continent to do so.

Criteria to qualify for this ticket type

A downstream buyer works for a company that needs to procure raw materials and minerals. This includes, but is not limited to, companies in the following sectors:

Automotive
Battery manufacturing
Consumer electronics
Aerospace and defence
Energy storage

If you hold a senior leadership, procurement, supply chain, or responsible sourcing role within a company that fits this profile, then this is your ticket type.

Tickets are subject to review and approval. You are eligible for a complimentary ticket if you qualify for this ticket category.

Remember, uploading a photo is required in the registration process; please ensure you have one ready.

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Reasons to attend

Access to Market Insights

The comprehensive conference agenda covers key trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the African mining industry. Attending the event enables downstream buyers to acquire valuable market insights, industry intelligence, and regulatory updates crucial for informing business strategies and decision-making processes.

Business Development and Partnerships through Networking

Building relationships and forging partnerships with the African mining industry is essential for supply chain growth. Downstream buyers can engage in networking, identify potential clients and projects, and explore collaborations with mining companies, investors, government, and other industry stakeholders.

Understanding Supply Chain Transparency

Through a dedicated sustainability agenda, downstream buyers will gain insights into Africa’s commitment to building transparent and responsible supply chains that guarantee no harm to environment, community or person, and further that no sourced minerals are secured via corrupt channels or processes.

Engaging with other Downstream Buyer Stakeholders

Through interactive workshops, downstream buyers can engage in interactive dialogues with industry peers and key mining stakeholders to collaborate on best practise and standardisation that will support the sectors to find productive and meaningful ways to work together.

Interested in attending Mining Indaba 2025?

Content sessions you may be interested in

Monday 03 February 17:15 - 18:00

Exploration and downstream opportunities – investing into the next generation of African mines

Whilst the continent remains under-explored, are African nations well equipped to ramp up their exploration activities to meet global minerals demand?
What supportive policies, incentives and partnerships are there available to engage with the public sector?
Developing domestic capability - what can be done to drive further investment into African exploration projects?
How can governments utilise this increased drive for mineral exploration to promote further development of industry & local communities?

Tuesday 04 February 09:45 - 10:30

Industrialising Africa - what will it take to increase investment in midstream and downstream manufacturing facilities?

Why this government objective?
Unpacking enabling conditions for mining companies and international players to foray into local value addition for critical energy transition minerals
Understanding the perspectives of battery and electric vehicles manufacturers to better understand midstream opportunities and actions needed to unlock those segments
The role of private sector and state-owned enterprises in implementing the vision of governments to transform domestic mining sectors to deliver greater value addition

Tuesday 04 February 10:00 - 11:00

Corruption in mining - why is it so hard to talk about?

What are the cultural taboos and organisational silos that discourage open discussion about corruption?
Does the fear of reputational damage and legal consequences prevent companies from engaging in these conversations?
Examine the complexity of navigating different regulatory environments across countries and regions.

Tuesday 04 February 16:05 - 17:15

The auto industry moves upstream - how the world's leading automotive firms are securing critical minerals

How are auto OEMs securing their critical mineral supply chains in line with the transition to EVs?
What investment trends by leading auto OEMs into mining companies are we seeing?
How is this strategic trend impacting industrial policy in countries with automotive value chains?
Can South Africa create a combined automotive and mining value chain focusing on critical minerals?
What implications will this have for African states that mine critical minerals?

Wednesday 05 February 11:00 - 12:00

Are mining companies being honest in reporting their ESG and sustainability impacts?

•   Are there too many reporting frameworks and demands? Is an excessive reporting burden causing mining companies to allocate a disproportionate amount of internal resources to communicating on the ESG risk management, rather than actually mitigating risks?
•   How will the growing body of anti-greenwashing legislation around the world affect African mining?
•   How do we avoid greenwashing?
•   How can companies ensure that they are rewarded by reporting to credible and broadly accepted standards?
•   What role do downstream purchasers and investors have to play? Do they care?

Register for your ticket

Criteria to qualify for this ticket type

A downstream buyer works for a company that needs to procure raw materials and minerals. This includes, but is not limited to, companies in the following sectors: